Selected biological activities of saraines.

1. The Mediterranean sponge Reniera sarai, Pulitzeri-Finali, 1969 (Demospongiae: Haploscleridae: Renieridae) possesses in large amounts a series of unprecedented polycyclic alkaloids, saraines 1-3 and saraines A-C. 2. The structural peculiarities of saraines, their chemical-physical characteristics, along with their relevant abundance in the sponge, prompted a study aimed at investigating their biological properties. 3. Saraines were assayed for their cytotoxic, antibacterial, insecticidal and potential antitumoral activities. These results, along with the growth inhibition of fertilized sea urchin eggs, are reported.

[Temporary artificial pacing after open-heart surgery (author's transl)]. / L'elettrostimolazione cardiaca temporanea nel decorso post-operatorio cardiochirurgico.

A three-year experiences with the treatment by artificial pacing of the cardiac rhythm anomalies after open-heart surgery, at the Institute of Surgery of the Heart and Great Vessels, Ist School of Medicine, University of Naples, are reported. The most frequent arrhythmias occurring during or soon after open-heart surgery and the main aetiologic factors are examined. The surgical techniques for pacing and their indications are considered. Thereafter some particularly interesting cases are reported.